Hawks Get Down To Work

September 18, 1985|By Mike Conklin.

The first bus to transport players to the suburbs for a non-skating workout was 20 minutes late. A master`s degree in communications was almost necessary to figure out the three-tiered practice schedule printed for the occasion.

Everywhere you looked Tuesday in the Stadium, there was activity. The huge new scoreboard was being lifted off the ice. Nancy Faust was pounding away on the organ. And doctors, nurses, trainers, photographers, equipment people, press and club officials scurried about the halls.

The Black Hawks had opened camp, and Bob Pulford, greeting a team for preseason practices for the first time since 1978 as a coach, felt one fact stood out above all others. ``I don`t think I`ve ever coached a team with this kind of depth,`` he said.

After a day of medical check-ups, picture taking, running, bicycling and busing by the players, the prettiest sight of all to Pulford, co-coach Roger Neilson and assistant Cliff Koroll appeared later in the evening.

That`s when almost everyone began reappearing to go on the Stadium ice for a skate that was considered optional.

First on was Doug Wilson, who was the only Hawk to make either of the National Hockey League`s top two All-Star teams last season. Wilson was followed within 15 minutes by such established stars as Darryl Sutter, Curt Fraser, Al Secord, Ed Olczyk and Bill Gardner.

Before the night was over, approximately 90 percent of a team that had come within two games of the Stanley Cup finals was in full uniform with skates flying and pucks bouncing off the boards.

``Believe me, last year was history,`` said Pulford, flicking away the excellent 1984-85 finish like so many ashes from his cigarette. ``It`s fine to think we did all right, but that`s in the past, and people only want to know what you`re doing now.``

There are 55 players in camp, and Pulford, who said he won`t put on his own skates until late in the week, plans to get a good look by staying in the Stadium stands.

The Hawks, after practicing a full week, will be the last NHL team to play an exhibition when they face St. Louis Sept. 25 in the Stadium.

``Last year (when Orval Tessier was coach and Pulford was in the front office), we opened camp on a Tuesday, and we were playing an exhibition that Friday,`` he said. ``Training camp isn`t long enough as it is.``

This week, the Hawks will be divided into three squads--Reds, Whites, Blacks--with veterans and others sure to make the club spread among the squads. Last year`s lines will be severed and each day will see a continuation of round-robin competition, culminating in a championship session Sunday in the Stadium that is free to the public starting at 5 p.m.

The first cuts paring the Hawks to approximately 30 players are expected to be known after the game, and by the end of the following week, Pulford indicated, he`ll be down to the 22 he`ll carry during the season. This figure will include two goaltenders, seven defenders and 13 forwards.

Pulford said 11 or 12 players will be shipped to the club`s new affiliate in Nova Scotia, where the Hawks share a working agreement with Edmonton, and probably six others will be assigned to other minor league teams. The remainder will either be returned to junior teams or released.

``We`re going to look at everybody,`` promised Pulford. ``There are three players, maybe four, and someone could come along and displace them. I don`t know right now.``